Operations & Exercises

Inquiries

Index

Media Room: Media Releases

Defence
MEDIA RELEASE

19/01/2009

MECC 22/09

CPA NNN/YY

MSPA 022/09Monday,
19 January 2009

CHANGE OF COMMAND OF
AUSTRALIAN EAST TIMOR MISSION

Brigadier Bill
Sowry has taken command of the Australian-led International Stabilisation Force
in East Timor during a ceremony in Dili on Friday 16 Jan. He replaces Brigadier
Mark Holmes who commanded the operation during a period of sustained
improvement in East Timor’s situation.

Based in Dili,
Brigadier Sowry commands the Australian and New Zealand military personnel
deployed in support of the East Timor Government and the United Nations. The
role of the Australian and New Zealand troops – known as the International
Stabilisation Force (ISF) - is to assist local authorities and the United
Nations to maintain a calm and secure environment.

Brigadier Sowry
has more than 27 years service commanding Australian Army engineers. He has
operational experience with the UN Mine Clearance Training Team in Peshawar,
Pakistan and Operation Anode in the Solomon Islands. He also planned engineer
contributions to Australian deployments around the world. Brigadier Sowry
commands the ISF after a position with the Canberra-based Defence White Paper
development team.

The Chief of the
Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, said he was
encouraged by the improvements in the security situation in East Timor.

“The progress
being made in East Timor is impressive. I am confident that under Brigadier
Sowry’s leadership, the cooperative effort between the local security forces
and the Australian and New Zealand troops will continue to bring stability to
the people of that young nation,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

The Australian
contribution to the ISF consists of approximately 750 troops, of which the
majority comprise the East Timor Battle Group from Darwin-based 5th Battalion,
Royal Australian Regiment and Adelaide-based 16 Air Defence Regiment.
Supporting elements include an Army aviation group from 5 Aviation Regiment in
Townsville as well as logistics personnel, military police and engineers.
Approximately 150 New Zealand Defence Force personnel complete the force,
including an infantry rifle company – re-roled from the Linton-based 16 Field
Regiment.